Guess where I’m drinking a Russian Imperial stout?

If you like the unmistakable taste of whiskey, then you’ll love this beer, a Russian Imperial stout aged in whiskey barrels in a local tap room that continues to rack up awards for its craft brews. Can you guess where I’m drinking? Special bonus: Anyone who gives the first correct…

Reader: Forget green chile — nothing beats New Mexico red

Although Denver diners are obsessed with green chile, red chile has its fans, too. As Gretchen Kurtz notes, “Red chile has an even deeper, more intriguing flavor, as fruits and vegetables left to reach their fully ripe potential tend to do.” She couldn’t get the Curtis Park Creamery, which she…

Guess where you’re eating? At an EatDenver restaurant if you’re petenammy

Cafe Society served up three Guess Where? contests last week, ranging from a still-unidentified bowl of pork-studded posole from a new restaurant (with an old name), to another yet-to-be-identified mound of chilled lentils from a new Ethiopian restaurant to a plate of seaworthy seared scallops from a restaurant that’s occupied…

Guess where I’m eating plate-sized pretzels?

Thank God for beer and big pretzels, because the rest of the food at this suds-centric chain really makes me wonder why anyone would ever want to eat here. But judging from the crowds — and the incredulously long waits for a table — I’m clearly in the minority. Can…

Exclusive first look: The Populist opens on Wednesday

On Wednesday, the Populist, a restaurant from Jonathan Power and Noah Price, the duo behind Crema Coffee House, will open its doors on Upper Larimer, its debut arguably one of this year’s most anticipated restaurant openings. But there is nothing remotely splashy about the Populist, which, at this point, is…

Photos: Barolo Grill unleashes its annual truffle feast

‘Tis the season of decadence at Barolo Grill, Blair Taylor’s lovely Italian restaurant in Cherry Creek North that, each year, bestows truffles upon Denver diners during its two-week truffle festival, an annual tribute to fresh black Burgundy truffles and the fall harvest of the coveted — and far more expensive…

Mona’s closes its Sherman Street spot, leaving only the original

Tomorrow morning a line will start forming early outside of Mona’s Restaurant, the incredibly popular breakfast/lunch joint in the Platte Valley. But owners Linda and Garen Austin have never been able to recreate the success of this spot. And last month, their third attempt at a Mona’s, this one just…

Red alert! Charlotte Saenz’s recipe for great red chile

With Christmas ads filling the airtime vacated by campaign commercials, the holidays must be upon us. But it doesn’t have to be Santa season for a server to ask if you want a Christmas tree. In New Mexico, where folks are even crazier about chile than we are, diners can…

Euclid Hall’s Jorel Pierce on being booted from Top Chef Seattle

I keep threatening to break up with Top Chef, the Bravo reality show that pits “cheftestants” (Bravo’s word, not mine) against one another in a string of often ridiculous challenges and theatrically contrived snippets that force the chefs to look into a camera and say really stupid shit — things…

Guess where I’m eating seared scallops?

We’ve all heard the myth — the one that stipulates that because we live in a land-locked state, we’re too far from the deep blue sea to procure great fish. The sea scallops in the above snap prove otherwise. Can you guess where I’m eating? Special bonus: Anyone who gives…

Photos: Cafe Byblos Mediterranean Grill is now open

Cafe Byblos Mediterranean Grill opened quietly at the end of October, and we dropped in this week for a quick look at the place. According to owner Sam Khechen, his wife, Roya Khajeaian, did all interior design work, and his father-in law, Abbas Khajeaian, is the artist behind all the…

Five best marijuana meals for a real Rocky Mountain high

With the passage of Amendment 64 — which legalizes recreational marijuana in the state of Colorado — I know I’m not the only one looking forward to the vast array and variety of weed-infused edibles that one day we’ll be able to prepare at home — and maybe even order…

Guess where I’m eating posole?

The lovely weather we’ve been experiencing this week is apparently coming to end this weekend, which, for me, means a warm bowl of soup, and the posole at this Mexican joint is exactly what I’d like to have in front of me when the flakes begin to fall. Can you…

Photos: Hideaway Kitchen + Bar opens in Genesee

Hideaway Kitchen + Bar may be tucked in an out-of-the-way location in Genesee, behind the Chart House, but locals have had no trouble finding it since it opened on November 1. “It’s going really well, with no promotion at all,” says executive chef Michael Powers. And he expects things to…

Round two with Darrel Truett, exec chef of Barolo Grill

Darrel Truett Barolo Grill 3030 East Sixth Avenue 303-393-1040 www.barologrilldenver.com This is part two of my interview with Darrel Truett, exec chef of Barolo Grill. Part one of our chat ran yesterday. What do you enjoy most about your craft? The instant gratification of pleasing a guest. I can prepare…